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Berwick

31/7/2019

 
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​Wednesday 31st July. Cocklawburn Dunes. Spittal. Berwick.
 
Drove down to Cocklawburn Dunes NR and parked in the Reserve car park. Walked south down a lane that became a track as far as a pool on the right then returned partly on the beach then through grassy dunes behind a pillbox and car park then finally along the lane back to cars. Visited the Pillbox on the way out. There was a Swallow’s nest inside in one of the corners.
This area would be good at migration. The scrub is excellent habitat for cover. The pool only had a family of Moorhens.   
Went onto Spittal and parked near the Lifeboat Station. Walked through the dunes to the right across from Berwick Harbour then walked along coast around the corner few 100 yards to a car park.
Visited again the Mediaeval bridge at Berwick.
There has been in invasion of Painted Lady Butterflies coming off the sea in their hundreds and feeding in the surrounding fields.
 
Thursday 1st August. Marshall Meadows Hotel to Burnmouth Hill.
 
Left the Hotel at 10.15 to to walk north to Burnmouth Hill and Harbour.
This is a beautiful walk with varied dramatic scenery all day. The views looking back along the coast were very lovely.
At a point after Lamberton Holdings the coastal way descended through a field. Some of the group who were tired went up to the left under the railway and steeply up to the A1 and walked to the village then had a drink in “The First and Last” pub.
Three of the group continued on the Coastal way to descend to Cowdrait. then along to the Harbour with a steep ascent to the upper half of the Burnmouth Village.
Caught the 15.37 bus back to Marshal Meadows. £2.60.
 
Friday 2nd August. Bamburgh. Blackrocks Point. Harkness Rocks.
 
The morning was a washout but it cleared up in the afternoon.
Parked along The Wynding in the second car park then walked along the road towards the Golf Club to overlook Blackrocks Point and Harkness Rocks. 
Returned and did a tour in the car starting with the very popular Seahouses then onto Swinhoe, then Preston Tower. A Pele Tower. You could climb up steep steps. £1.50 OAP. Didn't bother as it looked too steep.
Back to the A1 then RT down to Fenham Mill to overlook The Granary Bay with Holy Isle opposite. Could see lots of Gray Seal heads sticking out of the water.
One could book a Cottage here and it would be a perfect setting for a peaceful holiday.
Went down a track to a collection of white tents. The path then continued to Beal and the causeway to Holy Island. The tide was in so the road was awash. Some Eiders just offshore and were near enough for great views.

Saturday 3rd August. St Abbs Head.
 
Drove past Northfield Farm and up the private road to Pettico Wick. Parked at the Lighthouse. Walked to the Rocks. All the Auks had departed but there was a cacophony of sound coming from the Kittiwakes. Walked up the steps to the Lighthouse to view the rocks. The Lighthouse ledges again were the empty but there were lots of Gannets just offshore. A formation of about 20 Ducks in a vee flew past low on the water. Common Scoters?
Couldn’t find them in the Telescope.
Had lunch at the Cars then drove to St Abbs. There was a Festival on.On the way out had a quick look at Mire Loch but could only see Mallard.

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White Coppice

29/7/2019

 
​White Coppice
Monday 29 July 19:00 to 21:10
Fine & Warm
Number in Party - 17


Most of the party were able to park next to the cricket pitch as there wasn’t the usual throng of walkers this evening. We followed our usual cuckoo walk trail but it was noticeably quieter as we set off over the Goit with faint calls of Siskin in the top of the trees, disturbing a grey wagtail when we crossed the aqueduct. Ambling along the footpath with Stronstrey Bank to our left, calls of willow warblers up-slurred whistles could be heard amongst The gorse and undergrowth, darters also made an appearance but too far off to identify. Crows and Wood Pigeons kept a watchful eye on us from the fences at the top of the Bank. Further on Redpolls called and made a brief appearance making the evening worthwhile. Frustratingly Bullfinch and one or two other species made fleeting appearances near the top of the ridge, too far off to positively identify. Crossing The Goit once again heading back to the car park there were one or two quite deep puddles to negotiate from the weekend's heavy rains. We passed nineteen Canada Geese resting quietly amongst the sheep with a family of Crows playing above them catching the late evening thermals bringing a pleasant evening to a close.

​Bird list


Canada Goose 19
Pheasant
Com Buzzard 1
Grey Heron
Black Headed Gull 1
Lesser Black-Backed Gull 2+
Wood pigeon 10+
Collared Dove 2
Carrion Crow 10+
Magpie 2
Blue Tit h
Willow Warbler 5+
Wren
Blackbird
Robin h
Pied Wagtail
Goldfinch 5+
Linnet 5+
Chaffinch 2
Redpoll 2+
Siskin? h


Grey Squirrel


Darter?

Hesketh Old & New Marsh

22/7/2019

 
​Hesketh Old and New Marsh
Monday 22nd July
Fine Breezy Warm
19.00 to 21.30

A party of 19 Members parked on the car park next to the School on Shore Road at Hesketh Bank.
It had tried to rain all evening and went dark but we escaped a drenching.
Walked along Shore Road to the left for a few 100 yards before turning onto the Marsh via a track by Fylde View Farm.
It was a bit breezy and some crops on the right had been flattened due to the recent wind and rain.
A study of a ploughed field found a few Wood Pigeons and lone Stock Dove feeding.
There were Swallows and House Martin's flying around but no Swift's
At the junction we turned right to follow a ditch called Carr Heys Watercourse.
Saw 2 common Buzzard wheeling high over to the right then one of them flew low over our heads and landed in a ploughed field on the left.
Also 2 Brown Hares were seen in this area.
At Guide Road we crossed and continued towards the River Douglas. Could see a large flock of Lapwing flying along the river along with Gulls and what looked like Curlew.
The late Sun lit up the hedgerow by the side of the track, giving the evening an extra boost.
Retraced steps to Guide Road.
There was of wild flowers here attracting some lovely Butterflies.
At the bottom of Guide Road we turned right back to the car park
Some of the group had a well deserved drink in The Cock and Bottle after a lovely summer's evening's walk.

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Tocholes

15/7/2019

 
Tocholes. Crookfield Road. Hollinshead Hall
Monday 15th July
Fine Warm Sunny
 
A party of 15 set off from Crookfield Road car park near Tocholes at 19.00.
Found a large Caterpillar of the Small Emperor Moth while still on the car park.
Walked to a stile at the road corner and then a path that started on the left. This concessionary path led to left behind a wooded hill but it kept one off the road. Found a pair of Stonechats on a wire fence. They were a good start to the walk.
Passed behind a large wood. This wood was alive with birds including; Goldfinch, 5 Mistle Thrushes, Tree Creeper, and Robin.
Back at the road there was a path to Hollinshead Hall ruin opposite.
Had a look at the ruin and the famous Well House before retracing our steps. Back on the track could see the coast and Blackpool Tower.
A field below us and across the road had a herd of Cows. We picked up a Roe Deer then the Cows flushed a second Roe Deer.
It was a lovely summer's evening and good to be out. This area is overlooked and needs more attention in the future. Maybe a Saturday walk so we can go further afield.
Some of the group sat out at The Hare and Hounds PH at Abbey Village to enjoy a refreshing drink at the end of a beautiful summer’s evening

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Tarlescough Moss

8/7/2019

 
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​Rufford. Mere Lane.
Monday 8th July
Fine tried to rain. Overcast.

A party of 15 Members parked on the road near Tootle House Farm on Curlew Lane before walking slowly down Mere Lane on the corner of the farm. It tried to rain all evening and the weather was overcast but we escaped a drenching.
There was lots of bird activity including several Corn Buntings perched on wires and stalks in fields. Even perched on Corn stalks. Also a study of a ploughed field saw a lone Grey Partridge that flew in right through my binocular vision and 3 Stock Doves feeding nearby.
Could see a big barn over near Mere Sands Wood. This has a Barn Owl Box in the roof.
There were dozens of Swallows and House Martin's flying around a farm but no Swift's 
Lots of wild flowers by the roadside including; Willow Herb, Russian Cumfrey, Yarrow, and Burdock.
We had a friendly Farmer driving up and down the lane giving us free tips on the area.
Found an erratic boulder by the side of the lane that had been brought in by the ice many 1000's of years ago and when the fields were being cleared of debris, this would have been dragged to the side.  
Returned at 21.00 as we had not gone right to the bottom of Mere Lane.
A few people retired to The Hesketh Arms and sat outside with a well deserved drink after a lovely summer's evening.
A Barn Owl flew over the car on our way home near Tarleton.

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Åsa Berndtsson, Stefan Berndtsson, hedera.baltica, Dun.can, Andy Morffew, rambomuscles
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